Pressure hinge device for glass door or panel

• US 5,867,869 A
• Filed: 10/06/1994
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CHMI, KL Megla America, LLC
• Original Assignee: CHMI
• Inventors: Lambros, Anthony P., Garrett, Rodney G.
• Primary Examiner(s): REESE, RANDOLPH A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gurley, Donald M.
• Application Number:
  US08/319,468
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 16/292, 16/293, 16/334, 16/344, 16/303, 16/304, 16/286, 16/252, 16/332, 16/327, 16/390, 16/331
• US Class Current: 16/252
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/36 Articulated screens
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/54 for opening both inwards and outwards
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2003/025 having three knuckles
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2005/0269 the panels being coplanar
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0246 for attachment to glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/12 Securing pins in sockets, movably or not
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/16 to be secured without special attachment parts on the socket or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1061 in a radial direction E05D7/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/162 the wings being coplanar when the movable wing is in the closed position
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/114 for showers

Abstract

This invention relates to a means and method of hinging a glass door panel on an adjoining wall, either glass or non-glass. This invention uses a friction clamping method to secure the glass between surfaces lined with flexible gaskets. When torque is applied to the clamp screws, the flexible gaskets swell laterally to provide a large gripping surface area. The invention also includes an actuating mechanism that allows for wide range of rotation with absolute reputability. The actuating mechanism utilizes a main pivot roller that incorporates two indexing detents. A spring loaded sub pin roller rotates along the periphery of the main pivot roller providing a consistent index to each of the two detents.

Claims

1. A hinge for hinging a glass panel door to an adjacent supporting structure comprising:

a tram body comprising a housing;

a main pivot roller rotatably journaled in the housing and including a main body portion and narrowed opposite end portions;

a sub pin roller rotatably journaled in the housing along the main body portion of the main pivot roller;

a biasing member positioned in the housing pushing the sub pin roller into abutment with the main body portion of the main pivot roller;

the main body portion of the main pivot roller including an indexing detent along its length into which the sub pin roller fits when in alignment, the indexing detent having angled sides and a bottom, the angled sides being spaced so that the sub-roller pin can be partially inserted into the indexing detent and contact each angled side at one point;

a connector member attached to the tram body and having a component allowing connection of the hinge to an adjacent supporting structure;

the opposite end portions each including an anchor portion having a pair of oppositely facing flat surfaces, of the main pivot roller extending outwardly of the tram body housing; and

a clamp comprising first and second clamp halves which are adjustable to pull the clamp halves toward one another to clamp the glass panel doors, and receiver members to receive the anchor portions of the opposite end portions of the main pivot roller to prevent rotation or movement of the main pivot roller relative to the clamp.

2. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the main pivot roller has two or more indexing detents along its length.

3. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the clamp halves include recesses to receive gaskets.

4. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the connector member is a base plate which is connectable to the tram body, the base plate having apertures to allow it to be attached to the adjacent supporting structure by mounting members.

5. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the adjacent supporting structure is a glass panel and the connector member is a second clamp attached to the tram body to attach the tram body to the glass panel.

6. The hinge of claim 1 further comprising a raised portion on one of the connector member and the tram body, and a mating recess for the raised portion on the other of the connector member and the tram body, so that attachment of the connector member and the tram body resists rocking during operation of the hinge.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the angles walls of the indexing detent are at or near ninety degrees relative to one another.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indexing position is determined by the relationship of the flat surfaces of the anchor portions of the opposite ends of the main roller pin relative to the position of the indexing detent around the circumference of the main roller pin.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the indexing detent is either in alignment with the anchor flat surfaces of the portions or at ninety degrees to the flat surfaces of the anchor portions.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the indexing detent is neither aligned with the flat surfaces of the anchor portions nor at ninety degrees to the flat surfaces of the anchor portions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the indexing detent is about 45 degrees offset from either alignment with the flat surfaces of the anchor portions or from ninety degrees to the flat surfaces of the anchor portions.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the indexing detent is positioned on the main pivot pin slightly beyond a position in alignment with a closed position for the hinge to over-index the hinge so that a glass door can be urged against a door stop or jam by the hinge.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second indexing detent on the main pivot pin.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second indexing detent positioned along the main pivot pin at other than 180 degrees from the first indexing detent.

15. A hinge mechanism for pivotable attachment of a first member to a second member comprising:

a housing mountable to the second member;

first and second pins positioned generally side by side within the housing;

a biasing member to force the first pin into abutment with the second pin so that rotation of the second pin results in movement of the first pin across the surface of the second pin;

an indexing detent along the second pin, the indexing detent having a v-shape with inwardly angled opposite walls, the indexing detent defining an indexing position for the first member relative to the second member when the second pin is rotated to a position where the first pin at least contacts one of the angled opposite walls; and

the first member connected to opposite ends of the second pin.

16. A hinge for hinging a glass panel door to an adjacent wall comprising:

a tram body comprising a housing;

a main pivot roller rotatably journaled in the housing;

a sub pin roller rotatably journaled in the housing along the main pivot roller;

a biasing member pushing the sub pin roller into abutment with the main pivot roller;

the main pivot roller including an indexing detent along its length into which the sub pin roller partially fits when in alignment;

a connector member attached to the tram body allowing connection of the hinge to the adjacent wall;

a raised portion on one of the connector member and the tram body, and a mating recess for the raised portion on the other of the connector member and the tram body, so that attachment of the connector member and the tram body resists rocking during operation of the hinge;

opposite ends of the main pivot roller extending outwardly of the tram body housing; and

a clamp comprising first and second clamp sides which are adjustable to pull the clamp sides toward one another to clamp the glass panel door, and receiver members to receive the opposite ends of the main pivot roller and to prevent rotation or movement of the main pivot roller relative to the clamp.